Royalists vs. Bonaparts

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Transcript of Royalists vs. Bonaparts

The Count of Monte CristoHistorical BackgroundNapoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)In 1799, Napoleon's army seized power of France and in 1804 Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French. He staged war against European countries and eventually dominated much of Europe. A revolt led to Napoleon's abdication of his throne in 1814 and the crowning of Louis XVIII as king of France. Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba off the coast of Italy.In February 1815, Napoleon sailed from Elba with 1,100 followers and began a march to Paris, where he was again hailed as Emperor. This began his reign of "The Hundred Days" which ended with his defeat at Waterloo in June 1815.The effect of this hundred days plays an important role in Chapters 7 and 8 of The Count of Monte Cristo. Napoleon was exiled to St. Helen and died there in 1821. A follower of Napoleon was called a Bonapartist.Followers of King Louis XVIII were called Royalists.Titles of NobilityCount: nobleman equal in rank to English EarlCountess: wife of countViscount: English nobleman ranking next below Count; usually son of a countComte: a countComtessee: countessBaron: nobleman of lowest heriditary rankBaroness: wife of a BaronMarquis: nobleman ranking below a duke, but above countThe Count of Monte Cristoby Alexandre DumasDumas based his protagonist, Edmond Dantes, aka The Count of Monte Cristo, on a true story he heard about a shoemaker whose jealous friends falsely accused him of being a spy for England.The shoemaker was imprisoned for 7 years. When he was released, he returned to Paris under a different name and spent 10 years exacting revenge on his former friends.The novel was originally published in serial form. People would wait in long lines to buy the latest installment.It took Dumas, 18 installments and two years to complete the novel.Dumas' father was a general in Napoleon's army and the character Noirtier in the novel is patterned after Dumas' father.The royalty, aristocracy and high society often have rules of etiquette unfamiliar to the common person. Their homes were categorized as mansions, or mini castles, with many wings and private areas similar to a suite of rooms in a hotel. Husbands and wives had a suite of rooms which included different bedrooms. People did not enter these private rooms without an invitation, including husbands and wives. The business hours began later in the day and the social hours began late in the evening. People only socialized and married within their social status.Rules of Etiquette